LYNN — In an early-season game where tensions were running high on both sides, the St. Mary’s boys lacrosse team managed to sift through the muck and earn a hard-fought 11-9 win over Georgetown in a non-conference battle at Manning Field on Monday afternoon.
Both teams were tenacious for control of the ball all game long, and a scuffle broke out during the second quarter. The Royals were resilient despite being down for most of the game.
“Lacrosse on the North Shore has come a long way and we knew Georgetown was going to be a very challenging team,” said St. Mary’s coach Josh Field.
Georgetown was quick to take control of the ball in the early going. The first quarter saw the Royals score the first goal within minutes of the game starting. But from five minutes on, St. Mary’s swiftly diverted the ball to the Georgetown side. Royals goalie Sam Fritz made a few big saves in net, but soon after the Spartans scored at 4:20 to the score at 1-1 heading into the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started with the Spartans storming the ball down to the Royals’ side of the field, scoring their second goal 10:46 into the period. Nick Napolitano then scored another goal 45 seconds later, making the score 3-1. The Spartans continued with their domination on the field and after a Christian LeBert goal, St. Mary’s held onto a 4-1 lead.
Georgetown struck back with a vengeance, scoring just seconds after the Spartans, to make the score 4-2. But Davis Kinne responded right back with a goal to keep the three-goal lead for St. Mary’s, 5-2.
Jack Trapani flailed his stick at Damon Maribito to gain control of the ball, but the Spartans still maintained their edge. With 13 seconds left, Collin Jackson scored the Spartans’ sixth goal. As the half came to a close both teams saw their respective tempers flare up, culminating in a scuffle that had to be broken up.
The Royals swooped in to control the ball to start the second half, scoring at 10:52. The Spartans attacked right back, scoring two goals within one minute of each other to break the game open at 8-3. But Georgetown wasn’t done, scoring two goals in the final three minutes of the third to make it 8-5 St. Mary’s entering the final quarter.
The Royals started the fourth quarter with a goal, running through the Spartans’ line of fire. The Royals picked up a lot of momentum, with Chris Kirby scoring and almost bringing the score to a tie at 8-7. But then the Spartans scored two more times to put the game out of reach.
The Royals pushed hard, scoring two more goals, and made a big push in the last three minutes of the game, but it wasn’t enough to get back in the game.
“I think we need to clean it up offensively, we need to control the ball better,” Field said of his team.
The Spartans (1-0) will host Archbishop Williams on Wednesday back at Manning Field.
